What would Leslie Knope do? Reflect on your own experiences and share your perceptions about how civic engagement is portrayed on TV. How do you think it could be better addressed? Feel free to draw from what you have perceived to be negative and/or positive portrayals.
Winning Entry:
Poppy McElrue, 14
Civic engagement is the active participation of individuals or groups aiming to address public concerns. This includes volunteering to help a community, working to maintain and improve living spaces, or voting in government elections. These are activities we’re familiar with, and may even be involved in, partially due to the effect of the media. We watch television from a young age - our perceptions of politics and widespread issues are shaped significantly by our exposure to shows. Clearly, the TV industry is an important tool for influencing communities, so when it comes to civic engagement, what does it do right and wrong?
A TV show that stands out in the field of civic engagement is Parks and Recreation. It follows main character Leslie Knope, a relentlessly optimistic, cheery government employee. While most of the main cast work in the parks department of Pawnee, Indiana, the show as a whole covers many topics relating to politics and public service. Parks and Recreation presents civic engagement as what it truly is - people working to address public issues, despite the difficulty they may face. For me, Leslie Knope is the embodiment of what it means to be a public servant. The show focuses significantly on Leslie’s pursuits of happiness, justice and equality, showing her unconditional love for her community. Despite most of the show surrounding Leslie, it is ultimately about how her active spirit encourages those around her, and by the end of the series she rarely faces a challenge without the support of her friends. The show’s core messages of friendship, love and public service is what makes it such an influential and positive representation of civic participation, showing the difference it can make to many lives.
Despite this, I believe that in the industry of show business there is an evident lack of representation for civic engagement. Politics is a well-covered subject, whether through positive or negative portrayals, but other areas of public service are constantly overlooked. This may seem insignificant, but it could have a profound effect on how community engagement is perceived. Civic participation in younger generations has declined over recent years - many young people choose not to vote or participate in politics. To combat this, the TV industry must play a part: many young people are avid TV-watchers or Netflix-bingers. More positive portrayals of civic engagement on TV, similar to Parks and Recreation’s influential messages, are useful tools for encouraging our society’s youth to contribute to their community.
Civic engagement is a crucial part of maintaining democracy. To encourage more people to participate, portrayals in TV should aim to be accurate, engaging and positive. Characters like Leslie Knope are incredibly influential - if a show like Parks and Recreation can encourage thousands of young people to become more engaged in society, imagine how many more would participate if other shows also presented civic engagement as it truly is - an essential, powerful and inspirational way to aim for the greater good.